Tarnish-proof container



Dec. 12, 1933. E, HERRmG 1,939,497

TARNISHPROOF CONTAINER Y Filed July 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .4. l I."'IIIIIIIIIII y w W /W ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1933. G, HERRmG 7 1,939,497

TARNI SHPROOF CONTAINER Filed July 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

FIG. 4. 7 ,2? 25 If I! 40 iNVENTOR.

E1 em gre E HErPi -E ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to improvements in containers for protecting silverware frombecoming tarnished.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedtype of tarnish-proof case or container for silverware, embodying someof the features set forth in my U. S. Reissue Patent #115,379, andembodying improvements therecver in the provision of means for mosteiliciently l0 storing and racking of tableware in a relation where thechemical with which the case is treated may neutralize the sulfideand/or sulphur dioxide content of air, and maintain the surroundingatmosphere in condition which will most emciently prevent tarnish of thecontents of the box, notwithstanding the fact that the latter may beopened or closed a number of times for removing or replacing silverware.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a tarnishprevention case for silverware, wherein the silverware may be suitablyracked and stacked, in such relation that the bowl and tine portions ofspoons and forks may be maintained in most protected relation fromcontact with outside air, even during opening of the case, than ispossiblewith present cases; the inside of the case being treated with achemical having an aiiinity for sulfides and/or sulphur dioxide.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedsilverware case adapted to receive silverware in an improved rackedrelation, where the same is readily accessible for removal orreplacement.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedsilverware case having a compact racking arrangement therein forreceiving silverware in an orderly relation so that the same may beremoved or replaced with facility.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved case, with its closureswung open to expose the interior of the casing, showing the manner inwhich the silverware is racked.

Flgure2isaplanviewofthebodyofthe container, with the entire top wall,including the closure removed.

l'lguresiiandiaresectionalviewstakensubstantiallyontheirrespectivelinesonrlgureflofthe drawings. with the addition of the closure, also shown in section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a removable tray for receiving knivesin a racked relation.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially no on the line 6-6 ofFigure 2, and also showing the closure in section.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred. form of the invention, the letter A may generally desigg5nate the improved silverware receiving case or container, constructed ofsome inexpensive material, such as wood, composition material, or thelike. The container preferably includes a body portion consisting of arectangular shaped bottom 10, having upstanding front and rear walls 12and 13 respectively, and side walls 14 and 15. The meeting edges of thewalls 10 to 15 inclusive may be suitably dove-tailed, grooved, riveted,or otherwise secured together. The size of the contalner may vary, butin the main it will be adaptable for containing tableware, such asspoons, knives and forks; the dimension from front to rear being greaterthan the length of a conventional table knife. In vertical depth thesize 30 of the container may vary, and in width from side wall to sidewall it may also vary, depending upon the number of pieces and thecharacter of articles which it is adapted to receive. All of the side,front and rear walls terminate at their upper ends in the same plane.

In accordance with a feature of the construction, it is preferred toprovide a main partition wall, shown at 17 in the drawings, whichpreferably parallels the side walls 14 and 15, and is closer to the sidewall 15 than the side wall 14, dividing the body of the box into a majorcompartment 18 and a minor compartment 19; the former being adapted toreceive racked and stacked forks and spoons, and the latter beingadapted to receive table knives. The wall 17 of course extends from thebottom wall, and at the top edge thereof terminates in the same plane asthe top edges of the front, rear and side walls 12 to 15 inclusive.

Before describing the closure top construction of the container it isthought best to enlarge 1 further upon the details received within thecompartments '18 and 19, since therein the present case or container isa decided improvement over the container set forth in my patent abovementioned.

Within the major compartment there is disposed a rack wall 22,preferably constructed of a single piece of wood or other material,which is in the nature of a partition wall, although provided with aseries of racking slots 23 therein,

opening upon the top edge of the wall 22 and terminating near the bottomwall 10, to which the partition rack 22 is secured as at 24, shown inFigure 4 of the drawings. The rack wall 22 also extends from the sidewall 14 to the partition wall 17; being secured to said walls 14 and 17by securing elements 25, as shown in Figure 4. The top edge of the wall22 terminates flush withthe top edges of the front, rear, side andpartition walls of the box body above described, as shown in thedrawings. This rack wall 22 subdivides the major compartment 18 into afront section and a rear section; the latter being adapted to receivethe bowls and tines of spoons and forks respectively which are racked-in the slots 23 in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Theslots 23 are sufficiently deep that each slot may receive one or twodozen forks or knives in a stacked relation; the slots 23 in width beingsufiiciently narrow that there will be no lateral displacement of thestacked spoons or forks. The slots 23 may vary in width to accommodatethe shanks or handles of spoons and forks of various sizes. It isfurthermore contemplated that one or more of the slots may be of a widthsufliclent to receive flat knives, to hold the latter in stackedrelation if found desirable. With the forks, spoons or knives properlyracked and stacked on the rack wall 22, it will be noted from Figure 1that the fore ends of the handles of the articles stacked on the wall 22are spaced a considerable distance from the front wall 12. This space inthe compartment is adapted to receive a carving knife and fork orsimilar set; a shallow partition strip being secured on the bottom 10,as shown in Figure 3, to keep these articles separated properly betweenthe front wall and said strip.

The minor compartment 19, which is relatively narrow, and extends fromthe front to rear of the box or container, is adapted to receive knivesin a separated and racked relation. To this end, it is preferred thatthe compartment 19 be provided with a lower fixed racking wall 35,extending cross-wise of the compartment 19, and fixed at its ends in thepartition wall 17 and the side wall 15; the said racking wall preferablybeing disposed midway between the front and rear walls of .the box body.The wall is slightly less than one-half of the depth of the compartment19, and is suitably slotted at 37 for receiving the blades of sixknives, for supporting the latter in separated upright position, whichwill prevent their contact with each other, and possible marring.Suitable blade and handle supporting strips 38 and 39 are provided atthe front and rear of the compartment at opposite sides of the partitionrack wall 35, for supporting the blade and handle ends of the knives andto prevent rocking of the latter upon the supporting rack wall 35. Inthe upper part of the compartment 19 there is adapted to bepositioned aremovable tray 40, consisting of a flat base 41 of a nature to rathersnugly fit into the compartment 19. Upon the top surface it is providedwith a fixed rack wall 42, of the same nature as the lower rack wall 35;the same being provided with slots 45 therein suitable for receiving theblade portions of 'one-half dozen knives, for supporting the latter inupright separating condition. Upon the top surface the base 41isprovided with balancing strips 47, for receiving the lower edges ofthe handles and blades of the knives, in order to support the knives instable position upon the racking wall, as shown at 48 in Figure 5 of thedrawings. The tray 40 fits in the upper part of the compartment 19, andthus the compartment 19 is adapted to receive twelve knives, six ofwhich, in the lower part of the compartment below the rack 40, areseldom ever used, inasmuch as the average family uses but six knives,and the upper tray supporting the six knives for ordinary use in anaccessible relation upon opening of the container.

It is to be particularly noted that the bottom wall 10 of the containerhas a lining, preferably of fabric, with an appreciably exposed nap orpile surface. In lieu of fabric, suitable absorbent or other type oflining paper or material may be used, of which an example may beconventional blotting paper. The entire inner surfacing of the walls 10,12, l3, l4 and 15 is lined with this material, generally designated atthroughout the drawings. The racking wall 22 for the main compartment 18has this lining fabric or material affixed upon the front surfacethereof, and over the top edges of the said wall and down along thesideedges and at the bottom of each of the slots 23, although the rearsurface of the wall 22 need not be supplied with this lining material,if desired, as shown in Figure 3. The racking wall 35 in the lower partof the compartment 19 is suitably covered with this lining, felt,fabric, or other material; the same extending downwardly through theslots and over the bottom of the slots 37. Of course, the partition wall17 is covered at both sides and at the top .edge thereof with the liningmaterial 60, and the entire compartment 19 is faced with such material.As shown in the drawings the tray 40 has the base 41 covered on the topsurface thereof, and also the bottom surface thereof with the fabric orother lining mate- I rial, and the racking wall 42 is provided with thelining material 60 extending over the top edges thereof and downwardlyalong the sides and across the bottoms of the slots 45, as shown inFigure 5. It is to be particularly noted that the thickness of thislining material 60 extending over the top edges of the racking wall 22,and partition wall 17 is included in the above statement that said walls17 and 22 have the top edges thereof lying flush with the side, frontand rear walls of the bottom body, inasmuch as the said front, side andrear walls of the box body are not provided with the lining materialover the top edges thereof.

The top of the box preferably includes a stationary rear section 55, anda cover 56 hingedly connected at 57 to the fore margin of the section55. The section 55 extends from the side wall 13 to the side wall 14,and along its rear margin it overlaps upon the rear wall 13, and issecured thereto in any approved relation. This section 55 is fixed. Thehinges 57 for the top wall 010- sure 56 are spaced from the rear wall ofthe box body a distance preferably about or slightly less than one-thirdof the dimension of the box from front to rear. The stationary topportion 55 is preferably provided with depending side and rear flanges59 overlapping the outer surfaces of the side walls and rear wall of thebox body, as shown in Figure 3. v

The closure portion 56, which is made of wood, or of other material, isprovided with depending side and front flanges 61. The outer surfaces ofthe top wall 6 and closure portions 55 and 56 are provided with the feltor other lining material 60, shown in Figure 3, and at the hingeconnection 57 the material 80 is provided with a loosely hung doubledportion 62, to compensate for the swinging open of the container closure56.

The lining material 60, of felt, flannel, paper, or other similarmaterial may be cut in any approved manner to adapt it to the varioussurfaces within the compartments within the case, and preferably the boxbody and top wall of the container are lined, and the partition wallsand racks are separately assembled and lined and thereafter placed inthe box in the fixed relation shown.

The outer surfacing of the walls of the case or container may besuitably decorated, stippled or provided with finishing material orpaper, suitable for a box of this character, which is adapted to receivehigh price silverware.

The lining material 60 within the case or cont ainer is provided with atreated, coated, impregnated, sprayed, or otherwise deposited chemicalhaving an affinity for sulfides and/or sulphur dioxide, and adapted toact as a neutralizer for arresting traces of sulphurated hydrogen orsulphur dioxide which may seek to enter the compartments of the box uponopening of the box or case to remove or replace silverware. Thepreferred solution used is acetate of lead, preferably in the proportionof four pounds of aceate of lead to one gallon of water, and the pile ornap of the lining material is of such nature that it will receive andhold onto the droplets of the chemical when it is sprayed thereon. Otherchemicals which may be used are zinc acetate, carbonate of copper,soluble salts of zinc, or any other chemical which will arrest theformation sulfides on the silverware.

In the improved case or container A, it is notable that the fixedportion 55 of the case or container overhangs the major part of the rearsection of the main compartment of the case, wherein the bowls and tinesof the spoons and forks of the tableware are received. This virtuallyencloses the rear section of the compartment of the case, and providesjust suillcient clearance between the front edge of the fixed top wall55 and the rear upper edge of the rack wall 22, to permit the clearingof the compartment when entering or withdrawing the bowls or tines ofthe tableware racked upon the wall 22. The advantage of this isapparent, since notwithstanding the closure flap 56 is opened, therewillbe less liability of the entrance of air laden with sulphur fumes intothis part of the container. This is especially important, in view of thefact that bowls and tines of spoons and forks ordinarily tarnish first,and they need greater protection than the handle por tions. In addition,it is quite apparent that the knives which are seldom used, racked onthe wall 35, are completely enclosed and encased in the lower portion ofthe compartment 19, being protected by the chemical coating of thefabric lining therein, and notwithstanding that the closure of the caseis open, the half-dozen knives stored compelled to put the propertableware in theproper slots, which of course is the easiest thing todo. The parts are readily accessible and maintained in an orderly andcompact racked and stacked relation; the bowls and tines of the spoonsand forks being placed in the location where they are most protected.With such a case there is no opening of various fabric rolls, and guesswork as to where the various articles are stored, and the tableware ismaintained in a properly stacked relation, and does not loosely fallabout, as is the case with most conventional silverware boxes and thelike.

In stressing the importance of the box, in addition to the featurespointed out in this application and that of my patent above noted, itshould be men.ioned that conserving the silverware by the prevention offormation of tarnish upon the same is materially better than that ofpolishing silverware after it has become tarnished, because in thelatter case there is always a resultant waste of silver which is moreappreciable than known to the average housewife.

It should be stressed that upon closing of the closure part 13 of thecontainer the inside lining or surfacing of the closure will come torest snugly upon the top lining or surfacing of the partition wall 1'7and racking wall 22, for effectively sub-dividing the compartments inthe box from each other. It is to be noted in Figure 4 that when theknives are removed from the compartment 19 the tray 40 sinks down, butwhen the knives are received in the lower and upper parts of thecompartment 19, the tray 40 is supported upon the knives racked on thewall 35, as shown in Figure 6.

Various changes in the shape, size,and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a silverware receiving case, a receptacle body having a silverwarereceiving compartment therein, a top covering a portion of saidcompartment and normally non-movably affixed with the receptacle, acover hinged to said top as a means of access to said receptacle body,the cover when shut entirely closing the compartment, means in thecompartment for holding of silverware in a racked relation with theportions of the silverware most susceptible of being tarnished removablyretained within the part of the compartment below the fixed top, thecompartment facing surfaces of the receptacle body being treated with asulfide neutralizing chemical whereby said fixed top will retard theentrance of air laden with sulphur fumes to said part of the compartmentbelow said fixed top.

2. In a silverware receiving case, a receptacle body having acompartment therein, a top wall fixed with the receptacle andpermanently covering a portion of said compartment, a cover movable uponthe recep'acle for covering the other portion of the top of thereceptacle to close 011 the compartment, lining material facing thecompartment having a sulfide neutralizing chemical on the compartmentexposed surfaces thereof, and a wall in the compartment in close spacedrelation with the free edge of the fixed top wall sub-dividing thecompartment into a section entirely below the cover and a seclion mainlybelow the fixed top wall and partially below the cover, whereby airladen with sulphur fumes will be retarded from entering said secondmentioned section in a greater degree than from said first mentionedsection.

3. In a tarnish-proof case for receiving silverware and the like, thecombination of a box body having a compartment therein, a silverwareracking and stacking wall near and paralleling the portion, the saidracking wall being formed to receive silverware so that bowls and tinesof spoons and forks are in one portion of the compartment and handleportions in the other portion of the compartment, and a top wall forenclosing the compartment including a movable closure extending entirelyacross that part of the compartment wherein the handles are received andonly partially across that part of the compartment wherein the bowls andtines are received, whereby said last mentioned part of the compartmentis more completely shut or! from the atmosphere than is the firstmentioned part of the compartment when said movable closure is in anopen position.

4. In a container of the class described the combination of a main boxbody defining a compartment therein, a fixed top wall overhanging thecompartment within said box body, a tableware rack and stacking wallmounted upright in the box body and paralleling in close spaced relationthe fore edge of the fixed top wall, and a closure on the box body forclosing off the compartment thereof and movable to have access to thecompartment, whereby a restricted opening is provided into that portionof the compartment overhung by said fixed top wall.

5. In a tarnish-proof container the combination of a box body havingpartition walls therein subdividing the same into a plurality ofcompartments, closure means for the box body for closing ofi? the same,the surfaces of the box body and closure facing the compartment beingtreated with a sulfide neutralizing chemical, means in the lower part ofone of said compartments for storing articles of silverware intarnish-protected relation, and a removable tray at the upper part ofthe last mentioned compartment substantially completely closing oil thelower part of the last mentioned compartment, the said removable trayhaving means thereon for receiving articles of silverware in a rackedrelation.

6. In a tarnish-proof container the combination of a box body havingpartition walls therein subdividing the same into a plurality ofcompartments, closure means for the box body for closing oil the same,the surfaces of the box body and closure facing the compartment beingtreated with a sulfide neutralizing chemical, means in the lower part ofone of said compartments for stor-' ing articles of silverware, aremovable tray at tion of a box body, closure means for the box body,the box body near one end thereof having a partition wallsub-dividingthe box body into a major compartment and a minor compartment,

a combined racking andstacking wall and brace extending lengthwise ofthe major compartment bracing the said partition wall and having slotstherein for the stacking and racking of spoons and forks. and rackingmeans in the minor compartment for individual racking of knives.

8. As an, article of manufacture a silverware case comprising a bottom,upstanding side, front and rear walls, a rear fixed top wall overhangingthe box body, a closure hinged to the fore margin of the fixed top wall,a partition wall in the box body paralleling one of the side walls incloser relation thereto than the other side wall and subdividing the boxbody into a minor compartment and a major compartment, means in thelower portion of the minor compartment for receiving knives in a rackedrelation therein including a lower fixed racking wall, means in theupper portion of the minor compartment consisting of a removable kniferacking tray resting upon saidfixed racking wall. and a silverwareracking and stacking wall in the major compartment extending in a linefrom the partition wall to the other side wall farthest spaced therefrombracing said partition wall, said racking and stacking wall beingdisposed in closely spaced relation with the fore edge of the fixed partof the top wall so as to permit the close clearance of the bowl and tineportions of spoons and forks as l the latter are racked or unracked andthe bowls or tines slipped into or out of the compartment beneath thefixed top wall.

9. In a tarnish-proof container the combination of a box body havingpartition walls therein sub-dividing the same into a plurality ofcompartments, closure means for the box body for closing of! the same,means in the lower part of 115 one of said compartments for storingarticles of silverware in tarnish-protected relation, and a removabletray at the upper part of the last men- .tioned compartmentsubstantially completely closing oil. the lower part of the lastmentioned compartment, the said removable tray having means thereon forreceiving articles of silverware in a racked relation.

10. In a tamish-proof container the combination of a box body havingpartition walls therein sub-dividing the same into a plurality ofcompartments, closure means for the box body for closing oil the same,means in the lower part of one of said ,compartments for storingarticles of silverware and a removable tray at the upper part of thelast mentioned compartment acting as a sealing closure to shut oil thepart of the compartment therebelow, the said removable tray having meansthereon for receiving silverware in a racked relation. 13b

GEORGE E. HERRING.

